About Printing

History of Printing

Printing, an ancient art thought to have first been developed in China, is the process of reproducing copies of an original artwork. Photography and book printing are primary examples. Other types of printing include woodcuts, etching, lithography, and screenprints. Printmaking helps children recognize and make patterns. Pattern recognition and manipulation are basic skills in math and reading readiness, as well as in visual design. Prints can be made in many ways, including the individual stamping of designs, painting with stencils, and printing multiple copies from etched designs. For more information on printing techniques, visit www.moma.org/exhibitions/2001/whatisaprint.

Techniques

Stamping with Objects

Use such objects as a cork or sponge piece. Dip the object into a pool of paint, then stamp it repeatedly on a single surface, or on several individual pieces of paper.

Printing with Foam

On print foam, rubber, or heavy paper, first draw, then cut out a design. For ease of handling, attach a tape handle to the shape or glue it to a block of wood. Using a brayer (see below), ink the surface of the stamp evenly, then press it onto paper. Push down hard all over the stamp. Before removing it, check that the image has printed and is even all over by pulling back a corner of it.

Stenciling

In the center of a piece of cardstock, first draw a geometric or organic shape, then cut it out. Place on the final paper the cardstock with the shape removed and sponge or paint inside the cut-out area, creating a positive shape.

Monoprint

Paint a picture on paper using plenty of wet paint; mist it with water, if necessary, to keep it wet. When the painting is finished, lay a second paper on top of it. Rub all over the back of the top paper. Before removing it, peel back a corner of the paper, to make sure the paint has transferred.

Using a Brayer (foam or rubber)

Put a dab of paint (for a foam brayer) or ink (for a rubber brayer) on a smooth surface, such as plexiglass or linoleum, and roll the brayer back and forth over it. Make sure the paint/ink is well distributed on the brayer, then roll it back and forth on the stamp or stencil. Continue rolling until all the paint/ink has been transferred. (Note: The color will become smoother as you roll back and forth.) Re-ink and roll the brayer over another section of the stamp or stencil. Roll straight up and down, diagonally, or crisscross.

Maintenance of Materials

Clean both foam and rubber brayers under running water, removing all the paint/ink. Foam stamps can be rinsed with water and dried, and then reused.